Health Library

As if you need one more thing to worry about when it comes to your teenager: A recent study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health warns that one in five adolescents is lending or borrowing prescription medications. Researchers asked nearly 600 young people ages 12 to 17 whether they had borrowed or loaned a prescription drug and, if so, what kind. Allergy medications and pain relievers were the most commonly loaned. As it turns out, kids aren’t sharing their medicine to get high. Nearly three-quarters of the teens surveyed borrowed the drugs so they wouldn’t have to go to the doctor, but many of them eventually ended up at the doctor’s office anyway. This is a dangerous trend, as sharing drugs can lead to antibiotic misuse, resistance or drug interactions. Be sure to discuss the dangers of medication sharing with your teen. It could save a life.